Workspace creation and management for a computing desktop

Abstract

A method for managing a user interface desktop workspace is provided. The method includes selecting applications in a desktop environment rendered in memory of a computer. The method also includes querying each of the selection applications, capturing through the querying, attributes for each of the selected applications and writing references to the selected applications and corresponding ones of the captured attributes to a workspace profile. The method further includes generating a workspace object from the workspace profile. Finally, the method includes configuring the workspace object in the desktop environment to respond to activation by loading each of the applications in the workspace profile using the corresponding ones of the captured attributes in the workspace profile.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to user interface desktop management and more particularly to grouping related application icons into a workspace in a desktop of a user interface.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The computer desktop implements a familiar workspace paradigm for the end user interacting with the user interface of a computing application. Specifically, the computer desktop mimics the familiar top surface of a desk in which different files and documents can be placed and organized, along with ordinary tools of computing. Long part and parcel of the graphical user interface (GUI) of the conventional operating system, the desktop is the single mostly widely recognized user interface in computing today.[0005]The icon forms part and parcel of the desktop. The icon generally is a graphical widget logically associated with an underlying document or application. Activation of the icon results in the load...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a novel method, system, and computer program for managing a user interface desktop workspace. The method involves selecting applications in a desktop environment, capturing attributes for each selected application, and writing references to the selected applications to a workspace profile. A workspace object is then generated based on the workspace profile and can be configured in the desktop environment to respond to activation by loading each application in the workspace profile using the captured attributes. The invention also allows for hiding and closing applications, as well as updating attributes responsive to directives to close the workspace object. The technical effects of the invention include improving desktop management and facilitating efficient workspace usage.

Problems solved by technology

Manually launching each application and document in the collection at startup can be tedious and wasteful.

However, managing the content of a “space” can be labor intensive—particularly if the content of a space is ad hoc in nature and undocumented.

Even still, the work area folder also can require labor intensive management in both the creation and maintenance of the content of a work area folder.

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